Azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) from South Africa Author Filander, Zoleka N. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6905-4440 Biodiversity and Coastal Research, Oceans and Coasts, Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, Cape Town, South Africa & Zoology Department, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa zfilander@gmail.com Author Kitahara, Marcelo V. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Ciencias do Mar, Santos, Brazil & Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil Author Cairns, Stephen D. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA Author Sink, Kerry J. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa & Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Author Lombard, Amanda T. Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa text ZooKeys 2021 2021-10-28 1066 1 198 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1066.69697 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1066.69697 1313-2970-1066-1 133CE040A5AF44F1BC9A558C2F06A8AA BD84F4C3157550C9B64120B2BE53F01A Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) ephyala Alcock, 1891 Fig. 1O, P Caryophyllia ephyala Alcock in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891: 6-2. - Alcock 1898 : 13-14, pl. 1, fig. 4, 4A. - Gardiner 1904 : 117-118. - Yabe and Eguchi 1932a : 388-389. - Cairns and Keller 1993 : 219. Type locality. Off the western margin of Andaman Sea, India (HMS 'Investigator' stn. 56); 439-402 m ( Wood-Mason and Alcock 1891 ). Type material. Types are presumably deposited at the IM. Material examined. SAMC_A072974 ( 2 specimens ): Western margin, 168 km off PATERNOSTER/ 173 km off Brak Estuary, 32°05'41.99"S , 16°19'47.99"E ; 440 m . Description. Corallum ceratoid, attached, tapering to a slightly curved and slender pedicel (PD:GCD = 0.20). Calice slightly elliptical (GCD:LCD = 1.1), with slightly lancet calicular margin. Largest specimen examined (SAMC_A072974) 11.2 x 9.9 mm in CD, 2.4 mm in PD, and 23.0 mm in H. Costae poorly developed, but C1-2 more prominent and double the width of C3-4. C3-4 equal in width. All costae prominent at calicular margin, disappearing towards base, and separated by shallow and thin intercostal furrows. Theca glistening, with faint costal ridges. Corallum white to light brown. Septa hexamerally arranged in four complete cycles according to the formula: S1 ≥ S2> S3> S4 (48 septa). S1 highly exsert, and extend towards columella with slightly sinuous axial margins. S2 equal to or slightly less wide and exsert than S1, but otherwise similar in profile. Higher cycle septa progressively less exsert, but S4 more exsert than S3. S4 joining neighbouring S1-2 and forming a slightly lanceted calicular margin. S32/3 the width of S2, but have a more sinuous axial margin. Each S3 bears a thin and sinuous pali (12 P3). S4 rudimentary, with straight to slightly sinuous axial margins. All septa and pali covered in granules. Fossa of moderate depth, containing a fascicular columella composed of five or six ribbon-like elements. Distribution. Regional: Western and eastern ( Gardiner 1904 ) margin of South Africa, off Paternoster extending towards Buffalo River mouth ( Gardiner 1904 ); 146-567 m. Elsewhere: Japan ( Yabe and Eguchi 1932a ); Andaman Sea (Alcock 1891); 146-1289 m ( Cairns and Keller 1993 ). Remarks. Caryophyllia (C.) ephyala belongs to the largest morphological group of the genus, having septa hexamerally arranged in four complete cycles, and when keyed out comes closest to C. huinayensis Cairns, Haeussermann & Foersterra , 2005. However, C. ephyala is distinguished from C. huinayensis in its calicular margin being slightly lanceted and having S3 larger than S4. Furthermore, these species differ in distributional range, of which C. ephyala is known from the Indian Ocean and C. huinayensis recorded in the South Pacific. Among the South African caryophylliids, C. ephyala superficially resembles C. scobinosa Alcock, 1902 in having a slightly lanceted calicular margin, poorly developed costae, and a thin pedicel, but can be differentiated by having a circular calice, corallum attached, and consistently having four complete septa cycles. This species was previously reported from South Africa, off Mossel Bay extending north of Richards Bay ( Gardiner 1904 - specimens could not be traced). Thus, the new record reported herein extends its regional distribution to the South Atlantic, off Lamberts Bay.